While Lily and Zach talk Max turns to me.

"You look beautiful," he says his face going slightly pink.

And you look very handsome. I text with a smile on my face.

"Thanks," Max replies.

Would you like to sit down for a little bit?

"That'd be nice," He replies.

We walk over to the couch and sit down. Once we are seated I immediately zone out and start listening in on my sister's conversation with Zach. This is the first time I've seen her so happy to talk to a guy since the Brad incident. I need to listen in; for sister support of course.

"I'm 17," I hear Zach say.

"Oh hey wait... You're that new kid in my English class," Lily says.

"Front row third seat in? Yep that's me," Zach replies through a laugh.

"Well hey its about time to do pictures. After I take pictures, I'm off to my group of friends that I'm going with," Lily informs Zach.

Since they were done talking I zone back in to what max was talking about to me

"-Rose you here?!" He asks panicked.

Yea I'm here. No need to worry.

"Will you do it?" He asks.

I try to remember any part of what he said. School... Plan...Talk... Eh I give up. Surely he won't do something to hurt me. Right?

Yeah I'm in.

"Are you serious you will?!" He asks super excited about what ever he was talking to me about.

Yes Max. I think its time for pictures. I have a feeling I just agreed to something bad.

Just before we take pictures Lily comes up to me and looks me over.

"Mom would have loved this. You look so pretty," she says with a half smile.

Mom left us. She could have taken us with her instead of leaving us with dad... I type and hesitantly hit the send button.

"Rose, mom is out there somewhere and she promised me that one day she will come back for us. A mother never forgets about their promise," Lily says wiping a tear away.

Its time for pictures. If we don't hurry you won't get any. I send hoping to get off the topic of our mother.

"OK come on let's go." She says.

All of us head out the front door toward the tree.

"I plan to start a career in photography after I finish this year and head to college," Zach starts, " if you want I can take pictures for you."

"That'd be great," Lily replies to his offer.

Zach walks over to his car, opens the back door, and pulls out a camera. "You never know when you'll need one of these," he says pointing to the camera.

"Lucky us! Where should we take the pictures?" Lily questions him.

"Over here, right under this tree," he replies walking over to the fall-colored tree.

"Well first let's start with the two love birds shall we.

I give Max a death stare. His brother just called us love birds and we aren't even dating.

" Zach I've already told you we are not love birds, " he says his face lighting up with embarrassment.

"Fine, I'll stop. Now you two, I need you to stand in front of the tree and face me," Zach says pointing at Max and I.

We adjust our posture, and when Zach asks if we are ready we both nod.

"Okay. On three. One. Two. Three.," he instructs and on three the camera's flash goes off.

Just now I realize that I left Max's boutonniere inside. I take my phone out and text both Max and Lily. Be right back. I left something inside.

Lily and max both nod at me so I know that they read the text.

I walk towards the house and go inside. Quickly I grab the flower and head back out. I walk back to my spot where Zach had me standing.

"Hey we should have Max put the corsage on Rose now," my sister suggests.

"Yea and after that Rose can put the boutonniere on Max after," Zach replies.

"Rose, I need your left wrist so I can put this on," he says pulling a beautiful wristlet corsage matching my dress.

I offer him my wrist, and he puts it on me. As he does so, Zach flashes a picture.

I smile happily at how nice it looks.

Now it is my turn. I pull the flower out of the box and set the box down. I lay the flower flat against his suit. Carefully I pin the flower to his suit. It takes a few tries in order to get it, but eventually I get it in. As I successfully get it in Zach flashes a picture.

After many more pictures lily decides we have taken enough pictures, and leaves to go to her friend's house.

Max, Zach, and I all head toward Zach's car. Max opens the door for me. As I sit in the car Max walks around to the other side and sits by me.

-----

We drive for thirty minutes in awkward silence. Occasionally Zach tries to start a conversation, but he has yet to understand my concept of selective mutism.

When we arrive at the school there us a line flowing out of the doors. Max gets out, walks around the car, opens my door, and escorts me out of his brothers car.

Max, Zach, and I all walk over to the double doors to join the line. As we walk, Max tries constantly to hood my hand, but this time I let in and allow our hands to join.

He smiles at this. I smile in return. As we wait in line soon I hear the all too familiar voice of Mason.

"Aww don't you two look cute together," he coos to us.

"Shut up and leave us alone, Mason," Max replies angrily.

"Ooh I'm so scared," Mason replies sarcastically raising his hands in innocently.

Max I told you the other day. You don't need to defend me. I quickly type and send.

I notice him glance at his phone when it 'bings' but he just puts his phone back in his pocket.

"Guys," a husky deep voice calls from around us. All the I look up to see it was Zach. "Stop arguing like little five year olds," he continues.

That got Mason quiet.

Listen Max, I like you and all, but I can't stand the fact you are defending me around Mason. I've learned to deal with it so please stop defending me.

"I'm sorry. I just don't like it when you're picked on. Especially when it is the same person over and over," he says eyeing mason, who's head is turned away now.

We were now waiting in silence. I didn't feel like repeating myself about how I am use to the teasing.

Finally the line began moving. Slowly but surely we were making our way to the doors.

-----

When we reach the door Max gives the lady our tickets and we enter the gym. The theme was A Night In Paris so this whole gym is decorated like Paris.

Its beautiful.

"I know. I'm glad I get to spend it with a beautiful girl like you." He replies making me blush.

Then music starts to play, and he takes my hands. The D.J wants everyone to clap their hands so he takes mine, raises them over my head and claps them together over and over. He let's go and I bring my hands back down to my sides.

"You're suppose to keep going," he yells over the music. I just shake my head no. "Well if you don't do it, then I'll make you," he says.

I roll my eyes and begins clapping again, except I didn't do it above my head.

When that song finishes, another one comes on. This time I stand back and watch him dance. He has some pretty good moves. After this song another one comes on like the first and he has me clapping my hands again.

Throughout the rest if the night the D.J plays more fast paced songs. All if which Max either was clapping my hands together or doing a one man dance for me.

"OK guys for the final dance tonight everyone find there special one. This song is for all of you," the D.J. says. When the D.J. says this, I see guys standing with girls. They place their hands on the girl's waist, and the girls put their hands on the guys shoulders.

The D.J starts playing Photograph by Ed Sheeran.

Max offers me his hand. "Would you like to dance?" He asks me.

I don't know anything about slow dancing.

"Neither do I. It can't be that difficult," he replies.

I really don't think that's a good idea... But if you say so...

"You'll do great just follow what everyone else is doing. Step together step together. "

Max and I begin to dance. "Step together step together," he mumbles to me as we are dancing. I step on his shoes once on accident, but am quickly able to fix the mistake. I hope he didn't realize that.

"Guys its time to spin your ladies," the DJ announces. All of the guys except Max spin the girl they are dancing with.

"I didn't want to mess up so I watched how they do it," he explains to me. I nod in understanding.

The dance goes on for a few more minutes. Every time the D.J. said to spin the ladies Max would spin me. It takes him a few time to get it right though.

When the song ends Max places a soft gentle kiss on my cheek. My face is now sculpted into the happy girl I haven't had a chance to see in years.

AN: hey sorry for the long wait. During the school year I think it is best for me to updates every other week so I can get school work done. Don't forget to comment below what you think! :) oh and also huge shout out to gamechanger321 and BriannaVore they are helping me so much with this story. Go check them out!
That's all for now. Thanks for reading!
~Booknerd54321